Oppn ruckus thwarts introduction of crucial mines bill in RS

Opposition in Rajya Sabha on Monday thwarted government's attempts to introduce the crucial mines and minerals amendment bill by creating a furore demanding Prime Minister's statement on the release of a separatist Kashmiri leader, forcing adjournment of the House for the day.

Continued uproar, with several opposition members trooping into the Well and raising slogans, led Deputy Chairman P J Kurien to adjourn the House for the day after the government failed to introduce the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment bill.

Even opposition members like D Raja (CPI), Sitaram Yechury and M P Achuthan (CPI-M), T Subbarami Reddy (Congress) and Derek O'Brien (TMC), also could not move a statutory resolution disapproving the ordinance on the issue due to the ruckus.

The protesting members were demanding the Prime Minister's statement on the release of separatist 

Masarat Alam by the PDP-BJP government in Jammu and Kashmir, insisting he should do so in the Upper House as he had made a statement in Lok Sabha earlier.

"We will not allow an insult to Rajya Sabha", they shouted as Congress and JD(U) members trooped into the Well, while members of Left parties, TMC and SP were in aisle protesting on the issue.

Appealing to the members to consider the key legislation, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said it was not fair to insist on the Prime Minister's statement two hours after the debate on J&K issue was over. The Prime Minister was present in the House throughout the debate.

"My appeal to all colleagues in Opposition is that the Coal ordinance and Mines and Minerals ordinance ....are two important amendment bills which ensure resources to state governments, where tribals are there..., should kindly be considered," Jaitley said.